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Best Easy Halloween Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

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These kid-friendly Halloween sugar cookies with royal icing are soft, buttery, and perfect for decorating. Quick and easy to make, they’re a crowd-pleaser for any Halloween celebration.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • Gel food coloring
  • Sprinkles and edible glitter (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and sugar (5 minutes). In a large bowl, beat the slightly softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through.
  2. Add the wet ingredients (2 minutes). Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients (3 minutes). In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined.
  4. Chill the dough (30 minutes minimum). Divide the dough into two discs, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat and prep (10 minutes). Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin.
  6. Roll and cut (10 minutes). Roll out one disc of dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut out your shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gather the scraps, re-roll, and cut more shapes.
  7. Bake (8-10 minutes). Bake until the edges are just barely golden. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  8. Make the royal icing (5 minutes). Beat the egg whites and lemon juice together until frothy. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, beating on low speed until smooth. Adjust consistency as needed.
  9. Divide and color (5 minutes). Separate the icing into small bowls and add gel food coloring. Transfer each color to a piping bag or zip-top bag.
  10. Decorate (20-30 minutes). Pipe outlines around the edges of each cookie first, then fill in the centers. Use a toothpick to spread the icing. Add sprinkles while the icing is still wet. Let the decorated cookies sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours.

Notes

Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading. Royal icing should be thick enough to hold a ribbon trail. Let icing dry completely (2 hours or overnight) before stacking. For a vegan option, use vegan butter, flax egg, and aquafaba.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween sugar cookies, royal icing, easy sugar cookies, kid-friendly cookies, Halloween baking

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